Aibu to think the new Sunak scheme is woeful

[Marg33t]

New scheme is going to make lots of people lose their homes and starve.

Employers to pay 1/3rd of wages is way too high. They will cut viable jobs that will bounce back otherwise.

I'm happy to pay my taxes for all that need it to continue to receive furlough as this scheme will keep people in poverty.

Aibu to think it's a mistep?

Oh, you mean like the "let people lose their jobs for the greater good" undercurrent? People will lose their lives as a direct result of job losses. What about them?

As I said, I've always been happy to pay into a proper support system.

Bit rich of you to bang on about how we should all be compassionate towards your out-of-work relative and then make THAT reply to me, a disabled person being told by you and your ilk that I'm not worth protecting.

Not everyone don’t worry. But also we would all suffer if there wasn’t enough healthcare to go around so what we’re doing is for all of us.

Thank you, Marsha. It's really nice to hear from those who value me and other disabled people.

yes @DrizzleandDamp, dp's business is related to Events. It's a total and utter shitshow.

what he had booked in for the end of the year has all been cancelled because of the extended measures now. There is nothing on the horizon whatsoever. He will have to let all the staff go as there's simply no point continuing to pretend there will be something left to go to. There was hope but there isn't anymore.

disabled person being told by you and your ilk that I'm not worth protecting.

That isn't what I said.

My point was - who has decided that one group is more important than the other?

So much anger on this thread.

Yes we do. It's time for the super-rich to step up to the plate and hand over all their income over £30k. We're all in this together, after all.

Can't figure out if his is tongue-in-cheek? Hand over any savings above £30k? People's life savings to save the Arts?

Do you want the hang strung sectors to operate as normal rather than be paid via schemes? The latter is too much to sustain financially.
But the former will impact healthcare.

Good question. A compromise might be to allow the sectors to operate to at least some extent, which would allow them to actually take advantage of the current scheme being offered.
Not being allowed to operate at all means that the current scheme is closed to them.

So much anger on this thread.

Yes, losing your livelihood and watching an industry that you've put decades of your life into, fold, will tend to do that.

"Yes, losing your livelihood and watching an industry that you've put decades of your life into, fold, will tend to do that."

I think perhaps its the bickering on here. If you are that riled up then step away from the computer and get some fresh air. Whats done is done, no point arguing with strangers on the internet about it.

@RunningWaterfall

I would raise taxes of high earners (myself included btw) and use those taxes to provide financial support to those in the arts and other industries which apparently aren't "viable". There. Now what would you do?

I wouldn’t want to pay higher taxes to support “the arts”. I currently support several arts-related causes / institutions etc and higher taxes would mean that I’d have to cut back the level of support I give to them. And I prefer to choose which arts to support myself, rather than letting the government decide.

This^

Health, education, bin collections etc. are all essential things that the government has to fund. The arts are a nice to have extra. I'd also say that I'm a better judge of where my arts money should be spent than a Quango chief. So I'd prefer to donate my money to (say) the Welsh National Opera or the National Slate Museum rather than to the National Theatre's next woke diatribe.

Yes, fresh air will really help

The arts are a nice to have extra. I'd also say that I'm a better judge of where my arts money should be spent than a Quango chief. So I'd prefer to donate my money to (say) the Welsh National Opera or the National Slate Museum rather than to the National Theatre's next woke diatribe

For the thousandth time, what about the people and families whose homes and food those organisations pay for?

Go to Germany and see the difference. Face coverings are worn by all, no one claiming or allowed to claim a fictitious or exaggerated medical condition because they don't like them

BINGO And people wonder why there are new posters flocking to the AD threads.

Oh gosh, I’m so sorry for those of you that are bearing the impact of this. It is such an unbelievable and stressful situation. 💐

@Dawnlassie I'm trying to digest the latest shafting in this utter shitshow, okay? I really don't need some muppet making "helpful" suggestions to me.

Max
Thank you so much
It's not just losing a job or even a career, it's our lives.
It's rare you retire from a job in the Arts if you are an entertainer or Musician, it's your being and you usually do it until you drop.
It's more than a means to an end, you'd do it for free and often do, if your bills are met.

Without a doubt my colleagues, peers and associates are struggling to come to terms with this loss. Most are in counselling including me and my dh.
The despondency is like nothing I've seen before, why practice, why hustle for future work, why carry on, is the recent discussions I have with so many from our industry.
Recover, I think the industry will open up again, but not as it was.
If it ever returns to former times ito provision we are looking about 10 years.

@TheBeatGoesOn I have a feeling this will be extended yet again in March....
Yep. In March this year, we had "We can turn this around in twelve weeks". Now we're told it's six months to go, so twelve months from the original March. And in March 2021, what are the odds of Saint Boris the Clown coming out with "Just another twelve months of misery, lies, scaremongering, and silly slogans, I promise..."

Raising the tax of high earners will not come close to covering the cost of the furlough scheme. Some simple maths.

It cost £14 BILLION per month.

TOTAL tax rexceipts for ALL uk earners was approx £650 million last financial year. Which equates to about £54 billion a month.

Unless you are suggesting doubling the higher rate of taxation from 45 to 95%

Does anyone hear ‘jobs in the arts’ and just think ‘hobby’?

Err, no. Many, many people work in the arts - theatre staff, sound staff, musicians, actors, art therapists, artists....

Many of these jobs are low paid - for anyone interested in just how little jobbing actors are paid for long days check out the Equity website. You'll find that it is shocking and not even reaching NMW let along living wage.

BTW many people working in the arts and entertainment are self employed. Apart from a tiny amount of help earlier this year they have been left unsupported and dependent on charity.

In the meantime, as the majority of people working in the arts are not rich and wafting around their country estates, they have had to pay the rent/mortgage, bills etc like the rest of us.

So no. For most people working in the arts is not a hobby. It is the way people have chosen to earn a living and their jobs are as important as anyone else's.

One of the very worst things to come out of this pandemic has been this ridiculous grading of importance of certain jobs. We do need NHS staff, we do need supermarket staff.

However, without the people earning money in other jobs to pay the taxes the NHS can't be funded. Without people earning their salary to buy food, supermarkets can employ their workers.

"Let us go back to work". "No, you'll kill people".
"Okay, help us financially then". "No, tough shit, you're clearly not viable, get a different job"
"There aren't any jobs, loads of people have just lost theirs". "Well go on UC".
"We can't afford to, it won't even cover our mortgage". "Tough shit, should have picked a different sector to build you career. Just starve or something".

So how long are tax payers expected to cover mortgages?

I've a friend who only gets enough UC to pay her rent as her husband lost his job. They are living off their credit card.

Why is she less worthy than someone in the media with a mortgage?

As someone said up thread, whole industries have gone or changed over time - Wasn't much sympathy for miners and ship yard workers and people chucked out of that by the policies of governments of the day, or did that not matter as it was (mainly) the north, wales and scotland rather than London and the home counties?

@WinterIsGone and I just quickly googled and found this from a Yougov survey

Almost 4 million adults never read books for pleasure, according to new research, with lack of time one of the most-cited reasons for not reading

So what?!

As for who gets to decide that one industry is a bigger priority than the other....erm, I've plenty of time for a good show or singer. But if push comes to shove I'd rather someone who can care for me or deliver my children safely or teach them adequately, grow and provide food and supplies

@BrieAndChilli - your brilliant post perfectly illustrates the knock on effect on jobs if the arts and events sectors do not recover.
The lack of critical thinking of some posters is truly shocking.

Devlesko I'm so sorry. I totally undestand. It's completely heart-breaking. The immediate financial stress and the devastation beyond that of losing your life as you know it.

People have tried so hard to hang on, to plan for the future, only to have the goal-posts shift again, and are now left with savings depleted, no answers, no work, no help and the ever-growing possibility that things will never recover and be as they were ever again.

@Cadent of course she's not less worthy. I'm on-side with everyone who has been affected by this shit-show. I keep saying that many sectors are badly affected, and many more will be through a knock-on effect, it's not just the arts.